Favorite Recipes

Lemon-Butter Green Beans with Pine Nuts

1/3 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed, blanched in boiling salted water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1 tablespoon pine nuts
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Drain green beans well and pat dry.Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to keep from burning. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring, for an additional minute. Add the green beans and toss to coat evenly. Cook just enough to warm through, about 1 minute. Add the lemon juice, salt, and pepper and toss to combine. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.

Citrus Hot Chocolate

3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup half-and-half
2 strips orange peel
2 strips lemon peel
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, very finely chopped
Brandy, to taste
Limoncello, to taste
Sweetened whipped cream, for garnish

In a small saucepan, heat milk, half-and-half, orange peel and lemon peel until just simmering, simmer for about 2 minutes to infuse citrus flavor, being careful not to boil.
Remove peel, add chocolate, whisking until melted. Add brandy and/or limoncello, to taste.